Audiovisual Services

IT

IT Applications

Digital Culture

Video Games

Visual Arts

Video Production

The present call for proposals is subject to the availability of the funds after the adoption of the budget for 2018 by the budgetary authority.

1. OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION

This notice is based on the Regulation No 1295/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11/12/2013 on establishing the Creative Europe Programme (2014-2020) and its corrigendum of 27/06/2014 1.

Within the field of reinforcing the audiovisual sector's capacity, one of the priorities of the MEDIA sub-Programme is to:
 increase the capacity of audiovisual operators to develop European audiovisual works with a

potential to circulate in the Union and beyond and to facilitate European and international co- production.

The MEDIA Sub-programme shall provide support for:
 the development of European audiovisual works in particular films and television works such as fiction, documentaries, children’s and animated films, as well as interactive works such as video games and multimedia with enhanced cross-border circulation potential.

2. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

This notice of a call for proposals is aimed at European video game production companies which have been legally constituted for at least 12 months prior to the submission date and that can demonstrate a recent success.

Applications from legal entities established in one of the following countries are eligible as long as all conditions referred to in Article 8 of the Regulation establishing the Creative Europe Programme are met and the Commission has entered into negotiations with the country:

- EU Member States and overseas countries and territories which are eligible to participate in the Programme pursuant to Article 58 of Council Decision 2001/822/EC;

- Acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates benefiting from a pre- accession strategy, in accordance with the general principles and general terms and conditions for the participation of those countries in Union programmes established in the respective Framework Agreements, Association Council Decisions or similar agreements;

- EFTA countries which are members of the EEA, in accordance with the provisions of the EEA Agreement;

- The Swiss Confederation, on the basis of a bilateral agreement to be concluded with that country;

- Countries covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy in accordance with the procedures established with those countries following the framework agreements providing for their participation in European Union programmes;

The Programme shall also be open for bilateral or multilateral cooperation actions targeted at selected countries or regions on the basis of additional appropriations paid by, and specific arrangements to be agreed upon with, those countries or regions.

Proposals from applicants in non EU countries may be selected, provided that, on the date of the award decision, agreements have been signed setting out the arrangements for the participation of those countries in the programme established by the Regulation referred to above.

3. ELIGIBLE ACTIONS

Only the activities relating to the development phase for the following projects are eligible:

- Narrative storytelling video games regardless of platform or expected distribution method. In all cases the video game must be intended for commercial exploitation.

The call for proposals has one deadline. The application for support must be submitted and received between the date of the publication of the call for proposals and 08/03/2018, 12.00 noon (midday Brussels time).

The duration of the project is until 36 months from the start date of the action.

4. AWARD CRITERIA

Points will be allocated out of a total of 100 on the basis of the following weighting:

Quality and content activities (20 points)
 Quality of the content, the storytelling of the project and originality of the concept against existing works

Innovative character of the project (20 points)
 Innovation i.e. the extent to which the project pushes the boundaries of the existing offer proposing "cutting edge" techniques and content

Relevance and European added-value (20 points)
 The development strategy and potential for European international exploitation (including management of IP rights)

Dissemination of project results (20 points)
 The distribution, communication and marketing strategy and suitability for the target audience including accessibility features

Organisation of the project team (10 points)
 Distribution of the roles and responsibilities of the creative team vis-à-vis the specific objectives of the proposed action

Impact and sustainability (10 points)
 The financing strategy for the development and production and the feasibility potential of the project

Additional "automatic" points for:
1) Projects targeted specifically at children (up to the age of 12 years old) (5 extra points) 5. BUDGET
The total budget available is 3.78 M €. The financial contribution awarded is a subsidy.

The contribution is between EUR 10.000 and EUR 150.000 for the concept and project development of a European video game (activities to the point that the concept leads to a playable prototype or trial version).

The financial contribution awarded will in no event exceed 50% of the total eligible costs submitted by the applicant.

6. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted to the Executive Agency (EACEA) using the online application form (eForm) no later than 08/03/2018 at 12.00 noon (midday Brussels time).

No other method of submission of an application will be accepted.

Applicants shall ensure that all the documents requested and mentioned in the eForms are provided.

7. FULL DETAILS

The full text of the guidelines together with the application forms, can be found at the following Internet address: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe/funding/support-for-development-european-video- games-2018_en

Applications must comply with all the terms of the guidelines and be submitted on the forms provided.